EXPANSION OF THE LIST OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN KAZAKHSTAN

PRESS RELEASE
EXPANSION OF THE LIST OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN KAZAKHSTAN

 April 23, 2025                                                                                       Almaty

By the decision of the Expert Council of April 23, 2025 the following persons were recognized as political prisoner:

1. Adilbekov Daniyar, journalist, author of Telegram-channel “Dikaya Orda” (Wild Horde). On October 18, 2024 the court of Astana sentenced Adilbekov D. to 4.5 years of imprisonment under Article 419, Part 3, Article 274, Part 2, paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The criminal case was opened on the basis of statements made by G. Ergalieva, editor-in-chief of “El Media”, E. Akkenzhenov, Deputy Minister of Energy, and Yusuf Rashed Mohammed Al Javder, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Astana Airport. D. Adilbekov published these statements in the telegram channel “Dikaya Horda”. The verdict of the court of first instance was upheld by the court of Astana on January 29, 2025.
2. Syzdykov Aidar is a civil society activist from Astana, who has been a regular participant in peaceful protests for the release of political prisoners in Kazakhstan. A.Syzdykov is one of the founders of the opposition party “Alga, Kazakhstan!”. Syzdykov was detained and his home searched on May 16, 2024. On May 17, 2024, a decision was issued on the qualification of his act under Article 297 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“Illegal manufacture, processing or sale of narcotics, psychotropic substances, their analogues”). On September 27, 2024, the Astana court sentenced A. Syzdykov to 5 years’ imprisonment. On November 12, 2024, the sentence remained unchanged on appeal. Aidar Syzdykov considers the case to be fabricated. Previously, in 2021, Syzdykov was sentenced to 3 years of restriction of liberty for participation in the activities of the banned “extremist” association DCK (Article 405 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan).
3. Anafina Lazat, civil society activist from Astana. On November 06, 2024, Anafina Lazat was taken into custody. The court’s decision was in accordance with the proposal of the probation service for the substitution of the unexpired term of the restriction of freedom with imprisonment. The remaining term of imprisonment of 1, 2 years was replaced by imprisonment for the same term. In May 2023, L.Anafina was sentenced to 2 years of deprivation of liberty under Article 379 and Article 380 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2020, L. Anafina was brought to responsibility for 7 days for attending the wake of D. Agadil in Talapker village. In 2022 she was held responsible under Article 489 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan for conducting agitation for the establishment of the party “Alga, Kazakhstan!”.

 “CASE OF A COUP D’ÉTAT REGARDING NUCLEAR POWER PLANT 5 ACTIVISTS”

4. Mubarakov Aidar, 56 years old, civil activist from Almaty. On September 29, 2024, A.Mubarakov was detained before the referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant. The case was qualified under Article 24, Part 1 and Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At present A.Mubarakov is under arrest. A.Mubarakov expressed his position on the construction of nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan among his friends. On November 29.11.2029 Aidar Mubarakov went on hunger strike and stopped it on December 24.2024.
5. Zhauylbaev Nurlan, 66 years old, civil activist from Almaty. On November 29, 2024 N.Zhauylbaev was detained, the case was qualified under Article 24, Part 3 and Article 272, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At present he is under arrest. Zhauylbaev Nurlan expressed his position on the construction of NPP in Kazakhstan among his friends.
6. Sydykov Fazylzhan, 64 years old, civil activist from Almaty. On November 29, 2024 N.Zhauylbaev was detained, the case was qualified under Article 24, Part 3 and Article 272, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At present he is under arrest. Zhauylbaev Nurlan expressed his position on the construction of NPP in Kazakhstan among his friends.
7. Temirgaliev Nurlan, 56 years old, civil activist from Almaty. On November 29, 2024 N.Zhauylbaev was detained, the case was qualified under Article 24, Part 3 and Article 272, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At present he is under arrest. Zhauylbaev Nurlan expressed his position on the construction of NPP in Kazakhstan among his friends. N. Temirgaliev has serious health problems.
8. Kazakhbai Zhanat, 67 years old, civil activist from Almaty. On November 29, 2024 N.Zhauylbaev was detained, the case was qualified under Article 24, Part 3 and Article 272, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At present he is under arrest. Zhauylbaev Nurlan expressed his position on the construction of NPP in Kazakhstan among his friends.

Expert Council:
Galym Ageleuov
Lukpan Akhmedyarov
Zauresh Battalova
Gulmira Birzhanova
Anara Ibraeva
Yevgeniy Zhovtis
Yerlan Kaliev
BakhytzhanToregozhina
April 23, 2025, Almaty